Exploiting energy - VOX POP
published:
Monday | April 14, 2008
With fuel prices skyrocketing, how are you coping?
Ervin Johnson, private motor vehicle owner:
Well, as you can see, it is affecting everybody, you understand, because me do welding work so me have to drive around and look job, but the gas price really unbearable still. It all depends on the journey me cover. Sometimes me spend like two grand (thousand) a day.
Thelma Ferguson, salesperson:
Well, having been around as long as I have, I try to employ economy with most things that I do, so I am not the person who is going to run around the place. As a salesperson, I plan what I have to do, where I have to go. I mostly operate in the Corporate Area and I don't waste gas that I can't afford. I try to full my tank once per week, which costs about $3,500 and I budget within that and it works. I think SUVs are more economical.
Ian Ramsey, bus operator:
Me go Papine, university campus and make around six round trips a day to Half-Way Tree. It cost me about $3,500 to $4,000 a day. It rough pon we out yah, nutten nah gwaan."
Howard Reid, taxi operator:
I cover around 61 miles per day and about $2,500 a day for gas, and it is very hard, very difficult, because the wear and tear on the vehicle and all of those things and sometimes for the day you hardly can make back the money you pay for gas.
Easton Douglas, soldier:
Well, my thing in terms of conservation is to really try and do less mileage per day, because I normally cover like 50 to 60 kilometres per day. However, because of the high gas prices, I have tried to reduce that somewhat by trying to go less places. Where I don't have to go, I try and avoid them. I normally buy gas like two or three times per week and it will cost me like $4,000 or $5,000 for the week.
Carpool quotes
Carl Vanhorne, Portmore resident, who operates a business in Kingston:
"I have been practising carpooling since the toll came into operation, and have saved over $200 each day, not to mention the amount saved on gas, which is usually about $2,000 each week." When aggregated, he says, the savings are tremendous. Vanhorne and his wife use a smaller car which is more fuel-efficient and attracts a cheaper toll charge.
Minister of Transport, Mike Henry: Any initiative by an organised group to encourage carpooling would be a welcome move, and would be backed by the Government. In fact, should people choose to use government-owned JUTC buses against going with other family members, it would cause an increase in JUTC revenues.
Conserve!
As the price of oil soars on the world market, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Communications has intensified its campaign to conserve energy.
Fitzroy Vidal, a senior engineer at the ministry's Energy Division, in a recent address in Mandeville, said that Jamaica's oil bill was too high and could not be sustained. It stood at US$2.2 billion for 2007.
Said he: "Your best defence against the increasing cost of energy generated by imported fuel is energy conservation and wise energy habits. Greater energy efficiencies contributes to a cleaner environment."
To assist in its campaign, the ministry now has booklets with energy conservation tips for residential and small commercial sectors.
Tips for motorist on energy conservation
Make sure engine, gear box, rear axle oil are at correct levels.
Ensure proper inflation of tyres.
Don't use a three-ton truck to do what a half-ton truck can do.
Where possible, park vehicle in shaded area to reduce fuel evaporation.
Use air condition sparingly.
Anticipate traffic stops and slow down well ahead.
Maintain even speed, especially on 'long runs'.
Carpooling for Portmore residents was initially proposed by then Production and Commerce Minister Hugh Small in 1991 to stem the rising cost of oil.
For more information on ways to conserve energy, visit www.mct.gov.jm or call 929-8990/754-5501-4.
